Kenyan international Patrick Matasi will not be heading out for trials with Macedonian top flight side PelistarBitola following a hitch in Visa acquisition to facilitate the trip, the Posta Rangers custodian has confirmed.

Matasi had a great campaign for club and country in 2017 and capped it with being named the Golden Glove Award winner just weeks after helping the Kenya national team win the 2017 CECAFA Senior Challenge title.

Zambia chance

It was widely reported the goalkeeper, who has been named the best in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) in the past two seasons would be heading to Europe for trials after his CECAFA heroics but he revealed the setback while confirming his agent is working on a separate deal in Zambia.

“My agent had worked out on trials at Pelister Bitola but my visa delayed and the club cancelled the invite. I could go there during the midseason break. He is also working out something with Buildcon in Zambia but nothing has been agreed as yet. I am still a Posta Rangers player and I will give my best to the club as long as I am still there,” he told the official KPL portal.

Lifestyle change

Matasi has been a completely different player in the past two seasons, getting better with each game and he revealed his success was fostered by a change in lifestyle, getting him more hours in the gym and training.

“I changed my lifestyle in 2016 and really focused on improving myself as a goalkeeper by doing extra training in the gym and having enough rest. I upped the tempo in 2017 and it paid off. The climax of it all was performing well with the National team during the CECAFA tournament and I am very optimistic this coming season I will even do better,” he added.

Matasi was also part of the KPL select team that earlier in the 2017 season traveled to England to face off with Hull City, who were at the time in the English Premier League.